Sean Wilson is a writer, playwright and communications professional. Sean is the author of Gemini Falls. He has been shortlisted for the Patrick White Playwrights Award by Sydney Theatre Company. Sean joins us today with his new novel You Must Remember This.

This week we've checked out the first episode of Holden Sheppard's Invisible Boys. Invisible Boys is the award winning debut novel from Holden Sheppard and is now a smash hit series on Stan. Holden even pops by to talk about pioneering queer storytelling and adapting his show for the screen.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of Dark Mode, shortlisted for the 2024 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year. Her new novel is Cold Truth.

In a special, bonus episode, Andrew welcomes Felix Shannon as a regular on the Final Draft podcast. Felix is the renowned host of Death of the Reader and joins us with fresh ideas and a unique way of reading and discovering books.

Karina is the author of Duck a l’Orange for Breakfast (April 2023), which was longlisted in the Indie Book Awards for Best Debut Fiction, and Never Ever Forever. Karina, alongside her friend and author Clare Fletcher, is the founder and co-host of the successful That Rom Com Pod. Karina’s joins Andrew today with her new novel That Island Feeling.

On a warm autumn evening Grace decides to go for walk. It must be autumn judging from the temperature, and Grace was going to… she’s well, surely it will come back to her. Hours later, and with her family panicked Grace will be helped home by the police.

Here are my End of Year Picks and a few recommendations for buying Xmas Gifts for the book lover in your life!

Emma Grey is a writer, novelist and photographer. Her novel the Last Love Note was a global bestseller and today she’s joining us with her new novel Pictures of You.

Australian Gospel has the subtitle ‘A Family Saga’. The story contained between the covers and the ride Lech Blaine is about to take you on, well if it wasn’t true, you absolutely would not believe it.

Peter FitzSimons is a journalist and writer, former Wallaby and a member of the order of Australia. Peter is celebrated for his history and biography writing and today he's joining us with his new book The Legend of Albert Jacka.

We’d all like to believe we’re the authors of our own story, but when Vivian’s husband Dave abandons her, she learns the hard way there are some twists she wouldn’t have plotted for herself. Back home in Tasmania, Vivian is at a loss for what to do with herself until a chance encounter sees her teaching a writing class. Amidst the diverse students Vivian discovers that everyone has their own battles to fight…

Emily Tsokos Purtill is a lawyer and writer of Greek heritage based in Western Australia. Her writing has been published in Westerly, Griffith Review and Science Write Now. Emily is joining us with her debut novel Matia.

At sixteen years old Evie Hudson feels too young to be married, let alone a widow. And that’s the problem, Evie’s not sixteen but the accident that killed her husband Oliver also stole her memory. Now she believes she’s a teenager. Thrown back to a time when she felt safe. But safe from what?

Mike Barry is an award winning writer and artist. His Action Tank series has won the Comic Arts Award of Australia and has been shortlisted for a slew of awards including the NSW Premiers Literary Award and the Aurealis. Mike’s joining us today because Action Tank 3, the conclusion of the series, is out now!

In the fractured kingdom of Yue, Xishi is regarded as a peerless beauty. In another time her beauty might see her make a good marriage and support her family, but when she is sought out by the advisor to her defeated king she sees a larger destiny on her horizon. Thrust deep into the heart of the enemy Wu kingdom, Xishi must use all skills not only to survive but to bring justice for her people.

Kidan Adane has been living a half life since the disappearance of her sister. Ever since Kidan and her sister June were rescued as children they have lived in fear that they will be discovered by the dranaics, immortal creatures who live on the blood of humans. The dranaics power has been tempered somewhat by their bond to specific human bloodlines. Unfortunately Kidan’s family is one such bloodline. Kidan has crossed lines to try and recover her sister and has all but given up when she is summoned by the Dean of Uxlay University. The University's long relationship with the dranaics is threatened by the ambition of one Susenyos Sagad. Susenyos is bonded to house Adane and now Kidan must return and take up her birthright, or risk an imbalance that threatens her whole world.

Lauren Keegan is a psychologist and writer. Her debut novel is All the Bees in the Hollows.

Emily Maguire is the author of seven novels and has been shortlisted for the Stella, the Miles Franklin and many more awards. You’ve met her on Final Draft before and it is a pleasure to welcome her back with her new novel Rapture.

In the fractured kingdom of the Yue, Xishi is regarded as a peerless beauty. Her beauty is famous across her homeland and leads her to be sought out by the advisor to the king. The Yue have suffered terrible defeats at the hands of the Wu. This humiliation and the threat of ongoing war has lead the king to try a desperate plan. With Xishi’s help they will infiltrate the Wu king’s court, win his heart and overthrow his tyrannical rule.

Blue Mountains Writers Festival brings together incredible minds and exciting new talent set against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains.

Stephen Downes is a writer and a journalist with an expansive career in news, TV and radio. His debut novel The Hands of Pianists was shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. He joins us today with his new work Mural.